SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rafael Betancourt won’t concede to age or surgery. The Rockies’ former closer continues on the comeback trail. He will arrive at spring training Sunday for a 10-day stint with the team, throwing for the training staff in his recovery from elbow ligament surgery.

“I want to pitch this season. My goal hasn’t changed,” Betancourt, 38, told The Post on Tuesday. “I don’t want to rush anything or have any setbacks. But everything has been positive so far.”

Betancourt is a free agent. He has been throwing from 90 feet without issue, another hurdle cleared in his road back. After his camp stint, Betancourt is expected to join the Rockies for practice in Miami during their season-opening series. Bringing the right-hander back on a minor-league deal remains a possibility, even though he wouldn’t be ready to pitch until August.

“I am not thinking about that. I am just looking forward to being around the guys again,” Betancourt said. “It’s weird not being there.”

Knee improvement. With his left knee finally healed 1½ years after microfracture surgery, Juan Nicasio can finish out over his front leg on his slider. The result is a pitch with better and more consistent break. He is virtual lock to make the rotation after Jhoulys Chacin’s injury.

“It’s 100 percent different (with the knee). I used to hang my slider a lot. I couldn’t put my weight on my knee, and I would throw with only my arm,” Nicasio said after his scoreless outing. “I am ready to fight for my spot.”

“It just needs some medicine and rest,” Pacheco said Tuesday. “I shouldn’t be down for more than a few days.”

Pacheco adjusted his winter workouts to prepare for the grind of catching full time in spring training. However, the increased activity of catching — simply holding the target for hundreds of pitches — and swinging the bat created the soreness.

Josh Rutledge turned his left ankle on a double play in practice and will continue to rest. He is expected to play this week. Justin Morneau remained sidelined with a stiff neck. Manager Walt Weiss isn’t going to rush any player.

“Spring training is for pitchers, not hitters,” Weiss said. “They don’t need that many at-bats to get ready.”

Troy joined The Denver Post in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role before the 2015 season. He is a past president of the local chapter of Baseball Writers Association of America and has won more than 20 local and national writing awards since graduating from the University of Colorado journalism school with honors in 1993.

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